Pipeline maintenance worker
Also known as: gas pipeline network technician, pipeline network technician, pipeline technician, water pipeline maintenance operator, gas pipeline worker, oil pipeline network technician
About this occupation
Pipeline maintenance workers operate different equipment to keep the suitability of the pipelines. They perform checks for deviations and administer chemicals according to the needs and cleaning aim (e.g. corrosion shunning)
Essential skills and knowledge
- maintain pipeline coating properties
- operate soldering equipment
- prevent pipeline deterioration
- use personal protection equipment
- ensure regulatory compliance in pipeline infrastructures
- inspect pipelines
- test pipeline infrastructure operations
- maintain equipment
- apply health and safety standards
- follow written instructions
- carry out measurements of parts
- maintain working relationships
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (O*NET 47-3015.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Fit or assist in fitting valves, couplings, or assemblies to tanks, pumps, or systems, using hand tools.
- Mount brackets and hangers on walls and ceilings to hold pipes, and set sleeves or inserts to provide support for pipes.
- Perform rough-ins, repair and replace fixtures and water heaters, and locate, repair, or remove leaking or broken pipes.
- Cut pipe and lift up to fitters.
- Measure, cut, thread and assemble new pipe, placing the assembled pipe in hangers or other supports.
- Assist pipe fitters in the layout, assembly, and installation of piping for air, ammonia, gas, and water systems.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Social
Top skills: Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Active Learning
US median pay: US$42,360 a year (2025), 44,330 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- WoodworkO*NET: Building and ConstructionVery important (4.5)
- MetalworkO*NET: MechanicalVery important (3.6)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsVery important (3.5)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageImportant (3.3)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementImportant (3.1)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
- Helpers--Electricians
- Helpers--Carpenters
- Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons
- Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters
- Boilermakers
- Pipelayers
- Helpers--Extraction Workers
- Helpers--Roofers
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.